On crossing the finish line off the Linuen Est mark, at the entrance of Port la Forêt harbour, this Wednesday 16 December, at 20hr 18mn 17s GMT, the skipper of IMOCA60 Edmond de Rothschild won the transatlantic race in style after dominating proceedings from beginning to end, only giving up the head of the race for the first six hours to SMA skipper Paul Meilhat. His race time is 10d 05hr 18mn 17s. and his average speed along the great circle route (3,375 miles) equates to 13.76 knots. He covered some 3773 miles over the ground at a speed of 15.38 knots. In so doing, he qualifies for the Vendée Globe 2016.

Boasting perfect trajectories, an ability to drive the boat at its full potential when weather conditions required, and good command in the rough weather, Sébastien Josse won this third race in the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship in style. Above all though, the skipper of Gitana Team stands out as one of the frontrunners to count on in the next Vendée Globe…

The only ‘foiler’ to set sail from St Barths on 6 December 2015, the Gitana Team launched into a race against the clock in a bid to get its skipper to the start of this return transatlantic sprint in the best possible conditions. Indeed, following the retirement of Edmond de Rothschild in the Transat Jacques Vabre, the five-arrow team had to adapt itself and review its programme. At stake was the qualification for the next Vendée Globe of course, but above all the invaluable experience that would enable the skipper to rack up these miles in solo configuration on the North Atlantic. To pull this off, the group’s design office and composite specialists set to work the minute the 60-footer returned to her home port of Lorient – on Wednesday 28 October – to correct the teething issues observed and reinforce her structure.

Q&A with Sébastien Josse, skipper of the IMOCA60 Edmond de Rothschild

Victory and qualification

Is this victory something you’d particularly set your heart on or were your sights more geared towards the qualification ?

SJ : “Given the context in which I took the start – after retiring in the Jacques Vabre and with a break of just 48hrs in St Barths between two transatlantics – I must say that I was more geared up for qualifying and seeing how the boat would handle than an objective of pure performance. Right now, securing both is not unpleasant and I’m happy to take both.”

The race, the conditions and the key sections

Can you give us a rundown of the race in terms of the weather and the sailing ?

SJ : “It was a race for a metronome ! You always had to be on the right timing so that you could link onto the different weather phenomena : and that’s how things panned out ! In terms of the weather, the course was pretty much ideal. We managed to hook onto a low without too much downtime in the tradewinds rounding the zone of high pressure, which enabled us to traverse half the Atlantic as far as the Azores. Paul and I were the only ones to hook onto this low and be able to really make use of it. After that, I was the only one to have the right timing to be able to hook onto the second system, which was coming up via the south of the Azores. This second low was a ticket to Brittany, virtually on a single tack. The transition between the first and second low wasn’t easy but you needed a bit of luck on your side. To be at the leading edge of the front was a more comfortable position than that where SMA ended up, but the gap had already been created with the first low. The routing told me that Paul was over 200 miles astern of me at the finish in Port-la-Forêt. The maximum wind speed was 58 knots between Monday and Tuesday night and a minimum of 5-6 knots when we were circumnavigating the zone of high pressure setting out from St Barths.”

The first test in real conditions

What lessons will you take away from this transatlantic race, notably with regards how the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild handled ?

SJ : “In addition to being a fine transatlantic race, it was a great test for both the boat and me. It was exactly what I’d come here for. Since the launch, on 7 August 2015, it’s been a bit of a race against the clock. The Jacques Vabre didn’t smile on us and it was important to get going again very quickly in order to get some miles under my belt and amass some experience with the new boat. Heading back to the yard without having been able to validate the choices was unthinkable and not very gratifying for either the team or for me. Having done two transatlantics in less than a month and making the finish with a boat in perfect condition is a lot better with a view to the Christmas festivities and tackling 2016 with a greater degree of certainty. The winds were predominantly downwind and reaching, with just a few hours of upwind, but it was highly educational. The boat is made of stern stuff, very pleasant with this big cuddy under which you feel safe. She’s quick and on certain points of sail the addition of the foils is really impressive. However, to be making 30 knots in a monohull is not the same thing as on a multihull ; it’s less stressful and you wonder how you’re going to land at the bottom of the wave, but not whether you’re going to be the right way up… One thing for sure, I’m a fan of the foils and I don’t need to think about it for even a second, I’m keeping them ! The only slight regret comes from the line-up, which has suffered over recent days and I’d like to spare a thought for Paul, who really hung on and it was nice to be able to battle it out with him for the first few days.”

Solo sailing is like riding a bike !

You hadn’t sailed an IMOCA60 singlehanded since 2009 and this race was a journey of discovery aboard your Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild ; did it take you a while to get your bearings ?

SJ : “I hadn’t done any Imoca solo sailing since 2009 and this race was a discovery trip on the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild, but I soon found my bearings again. It was reassuring because prior to it becoming second nature, you always wonder “am I going to be in good shape ?” You need to get your reflex actions back. However, this is just the start. I’m going to need to continue to sail the boat. Now I know what I’m about we call that experience and that’s not something you forget.”

Teamwork

The team has worked relentlessly, not only since the launch back in August, but also more recently following the retirement from the Transat Jacques Vabre, to enable you to take part in this race. Do you have anything to say to them ?
SJ : “The timing was tight ! Since our retirement in the Transat Jacques Vabre, the team has spared no effort and been able to make the crossing with the boat, arrive with a jobs list that wasn’t too long and be able to set sail again in a solo race : it was an almighty challenge ! It’s a team victory ! In truth, they worked flat out over the weekends and the weeks so the boat was ready and if they hadn’t been there, we wouldn’t be in Port-la-Forêt today. Thank you and hats off to the guys for having worked so hard !”